By Robert B. Roque, Jr.
A few months ago, social media was abuzz over Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) delegates who reportedly went to Thailand for a “seminar,” accompanied by more telling photos of their “major, major” itinerary, including riding elephants. That alone raised eyebrows about what exactly passes for “training” these days in government circles.
Earlier this month, some 12 local officials from Bulacan — 11 vice mayors and one mayor — found themselves stranded in Dubai amid tensions in the Middle East following drone attacks by Iran.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla Jr. explained that the officials had travel authority and that the trip was supposedly done in their “personal capacity.” According to him, as long as no government funds were used, such travel can be permitted.
However, even with that explanation, all taxpayers should ask serious questions about these practices, which have apparently been ongoing for decades.
The way I see it, one of the most understated breeding grounds of corruption is the whole culture of trainings, conferences, and seminars conducted by national government agencies and local government units (LGUs).
Think about how these things usually work. Officials travel as a group to venues far from their offices — sometimes to hotels in Metro Manila, even if they come from nearby provinces. In other cases, they go abroad. All of this entails costs: hotel accommodations, often in upscale venues; airfare and even VIP transport arrangements; and on top of that, daily allowances mandated by government rules on these activities.
The basic question is this: Is that really the most appropriate use of taxpayer money today?
Especially when technology already allows many of these conferences to be conducted online — through Zoom, MS Teams, and similar platforms — which are not only effective but far more economical.
But because these trips are funded or facilitated through government budgets, they sometimes end up becoming occasions for “travel goals” and social climbing. Kaya madalas under the radar ginagawa — they are not publicized.
And then, incidents like the Dubai situation happen. If there’s really nothing suspicious about that group travel, why not have Bulacan Sangguniang Panlalawigan, led by Vice Gov. Alex Castro, have this investigated?
I mean it’s not like Bulacan is a stalwart protector of taxpayer’s money amid all the corruption scandals surfacing from DPWH-led flood mitigation ghost projects. Perhaps it’s in the Vice Governor’s interest — I’ve heard whispers he eyes the governorship post in 2028 — to ask questions like: “Nagpapalakas ba si mayor sa 11 vice mayors?” “Is someone in that group positioning himself for a future run for governor, too?”
If this kind of practice continues unchecked, whether in national agencies or in LGUs, it will eventually trickle down to the barangays just as it did to the Sangguniang Kabataan level.
What kind of example are we setting for the youth and future leaders from the grassroots if even a “new employee orientation” can become an out-of-town resort affair — overnight, with swimming, cocktails, and all the trappings of a vacation that ordinary Filipinos simply cannot afford?
Public service was never meant to look like this. This is not what the taxpaying public should pay for.
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